# Things that are illegal in one state/subjurisdiction but contraband in another part of the country **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 24, 2012, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-illegal-in-one-state-subjurisdiction-but-contraband-in-another-part-of-the-country/613851 "2012-02-24T16:29:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-illegal-in-one-state-subjurisdiction-but-contraband-in-another-part-of-the-country/613851/1 "2012-02-24T16:29:05Z")
Other than firearms and medical marijuana, what are some things that are illegal in one state, province, city, county, town, etc. to the extent that possession of the item is substantially illegal/contraband, but are legal generally in another jurisdiction of the same country? E.g. Husband: “Now dear, I just wanted to tell you that if you are going to drive down to DC again, make sure that you either take the diamond-studded belt sander out of the trunk and leave it in the garage or else make sure you drive the long way into Appalachia and back through PA-\>WV-\>VA-DC and make sure to be very careful to stay out of Maryland.” Wife: “Why?” Husband: “Possession of a diamond-studded belt sander is a felony in Maryland and Oregon, a misdemeanor in Rhode Island, but legal everywhere else in the country. Also, if you take the old Compaq laptop, make sure you stay out of Rockingham County, Virginia, because the password retrieval utility is legal here but is considered an “Illegal Hacking Tool of Crime” in Rockingham County, possession of which can lead to up to 6 months in jail.” ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-illegal-in-one-state-subjurisdiction-but-contraband-in-another-part-of-the-country/613851/2 "2012-02-24T16:31:08Z")
George Takei’s marriage. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-illegal-in-one-state-subjurisdiction-but-contraband-in-another-part-of-the-country/613851/3 "2012-02-24T16:31:52Z")
Firearm silencers come to mind. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-illegal-in-one-state-subjurisdiction-but-contraband-in-another-part-of-the-country/613851/4 "2012-02-24T16:32:24Z")
Various kinds of fireworks. ---
**Author:** ![SubaRhubarb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@SubaRhubarb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SubaRhubarb)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-illegal-in-one-state-subjurisdiction-but-contraband-in-another-part-of-the-country/613851/5 "2012-02-24T16:40:05Z")
Not sure if this counts, but I was pulled over in Pennsylvania because my car from Florida has very dark window tint. I chose to go to court, and the Judge threw out the ticket (and chewed out the cop) as my car is registered in a state that allows that dark of tint. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-illegal-in-one-state-subjurisdiction-but-contraband-in-another-part-of-the-country/613851/6 "2012-02-24T16:44:53Z")
Having studded tires on your car. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-illegal-in-one-state-subjurisdiction-but-contraband-in-another-part-of-the-country/613851/7 "2012-02-24T16:47:08Z")
What constitutes an illegal knife for carrying seems to vary a great deal from state to state. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-illegal-in-one-state-subjurisdiction-but-contraband-in-another-part-of-the-country/613851/8 "2012-02-24T16:49:01Z")
Occasionally agricultural products which could harbor unwanted pests. Some exotic animals for the same reason. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-illegal-in-one-state-subjurisdiction-but-contraband-in-another-part-of-the-country/613851/9 "2012-02-24T16:56:12Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Various kinds of fireworks. It’s illegal to sell or set off fireworks in some states but any that they’re actually contraband? ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-illegal-in-one-state-subjurisdiction-but-contraband-in-another-part-of-the-country/613851/10 "2012-02-24T16:57:25Z")
Radar detectors ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-illegal-in-one-state-subjurisdiction-but-contraband-in-another-part-of-the-country/613851/11 "2012-02-24T17:05:55Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Various kinds of fireworks. Fun fact, if you go into a fireworks store in Pennsylvania they have two sections. They check your ID at the door, one section is for Pennsylvania residents, one is for out of state residents. PA residents get to choose from a wide variety of sparklers and coiling snakes. Out of state residents get to buy whatever they want, the 8000 piece “blow up your garage” kit and the “half way to the moon” incendiary rocket. Why? Because it’s illegal for PA residents to buy good fireworks in PA, but it’s not illegal to sell them. So, a NY or NJ resident can waltz into one of these shops buy a ton of fireworks, completely legally, then bring them home where possession of a sparkler is illegal. Personally, I think there’s something really skeevy about a law that’s set up like this. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-illegal-in-one-state-subjurisdiction-but-contraband-in-another-part-of-the-country/613851/12 "2012-02-24T17:13:51Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Fun fact, if you go into a fireworks store in Pennsylvania they have two sections. They check your ID at the door, one section is for Pennsylvania residents, one is for out of state residents. PA residents get to choose from a wide variety of sparklers and coiling snakes. Out of state residents get to buy whatever they want, the 8000 piece “blow up your garage” kit and the “half way to the moon” incendiary rocket. Why? Because it’s illegal for PA residents to buy good fireworks in PA, but it’s not illegal to sell them. > > So, a NY or NJ resident can waltz into one of these shops buy a ton of fireworks, completely legally, then bring them home where possession of a sparkler is illegal. > > Personally, I think there’s something really skeevy about a law that’s set up like this. I’ve been to many PA firework stores, particularly near state borders. (I am not a PA resident). 1. I’ve only seen one entrance to any of the stores. 2. I have never been asked to show ID, or declare my state of residence. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-illegal-in-one-state-subjurisdiction-but-contraband-in-another-part-of-the-country/613851/13 "2012-02-24T17:17:57Z")
Both before and after Prohibition, counties, cities, and towns declared themselves dry. Lots of places would do border checks to make sure that people weren’t driving into the wet places and bringing home trunkloads of liquor. Kansas and Missouri used to have notorious dust-ups where police would trail cars. As with Pennsylvania and its fireworks, lots of stores would set up just across the border. Same with all sorts of illegal enterprises like brothels or items that were much cheaper because of low local taxes like cigarettes. ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-illegal-in-one-state-subjurisdiction-but-contraband-in-another-part-of-the-country/613851/14 "2012-02-24T17:19:14Z")
Is Coors beer still in this category, à la _Smokey and the Bandit_? ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-illegal-in-one-state-subjurisdiction-but-contraband-in-another-part-of-the-country/613851/15 "2012-02-24T17:23:53Z")
> [@BwanaBob](#): > > I’ve been to many PA firework stores, particularly near state borders. (I am not a PA resident). > > 1. I’ve only seen one entrance to any of the stores. > 2. I have never been asked to show ID, or declare my state of residence. That’s odd, they did it near my parent’s home in Milford, PA. It was rather a source of amusement at the time. I got to peruse the good stuff, and they couldn’t even go in the room with me. The [PA State Police](http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/psp/4451/fireworksfaq/537214) confirm that it is illegal for PA residents to buy, and legal for others to buy. I suppose they could flaunt the law, but it seems foolish when you have a huge out of state customer base to sell to legally. ---
**Author:** ![gatorslap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gatorslap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gatorslap)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-illegal-in-one-state-subjurisdiction-but-contraband-in-another-part-of-the-country/613851/16 "2012-02-24T17:29:04Z")
Salvia is completely legal in some states, and completely banned in others. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-illegal-in-one-state-subjurisdiction-but-contraband-in-another-part-of-the-country/613851/17 "2012-02-24T18:29:17Z")
Age of consent varies. Legal, consensual acts in one state could get you listed as a sex offender in another. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-illegal-in-one-state-subjurisdiction-but-contraband-in-another-part-of-the-country/613851/18 "2012-02-24T18:29:35Z")
Possessing large sums of money, then committing DWB will get the money confiscated under questionable circumstances in some states. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-illegal-in-one-state-subjurisdiction-but-contraband-in-another-part-of-the-country/613851/19 "2012-02-24T18:37:41Z")
Fully automatic firearms, carrying in public, or in certain places. “Weapons” like nightsticks, nunchaku, etc. Certain pets, e.g. gerbils, sugar gliders, and ferrets in California. Not quite the same thing, but you can’t bring in many types of produce into California. It is legal to buy the same stuff when you get there. They could harbor pests and all. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-illegal-in-one-state-subjurisdiction-but-contraband-in-another-part-of-the-country/613851/20 "2012-02-24T18:38:30Z")
> [@Saltire](#): > > Is Coors beer still in this category, à la _Smokey and the Bandit_? Hasn’t been for quite a few years. Coors started national distribution in the late 80s, I believe. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-illegal-in-one-state-subjurisdiction-but-contraband-in-another-part-of-the-country/613851.md?page=2)